MLB Player News

India is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Yankees.

On the bench for three of the Royals' previous four matchups with right-handed starting pitchers, India's playing time had already been tailing off, but the veteran infielder will now remain out Sunday despite a southpaw (Ryan Weathers) taking the hill for the Yankees. The Royals will go with the left-handed-hitting Michael Massey at second base instead of India, who has mustered a lowly .167/.310/.313 slash line across 58 plate appearances thus far during his second season with Kansas City.

The Royals optioned Spence to Triple-A Omaha on Sunday.

Spence wasn't going to be available for at least a few days after he yielded six earned runs on four hits and five walks while covering four innings and tossing 84 pitches in long relief during Saturday's 13-4 loss to the Yankees, so Kansas City will send him to the minors in exchange for a fresh arm. Mason Black was recalled from Triple-A Omaha in a corresponding move and will give the Royals another right-handed arm capable of covering multiple innings out of the bullpen.

The Royals recalled Black from Triple-A Omaha on Sunday.

Black was unable to crack Kansas City's Opening Day roster but will now get a look in the big-league bullpen. The 26-year-old has a 3.86 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 6:5 K:BB over 11.2 innings (seven appearances) with Omaha this year, and he'll provide the Royals with some bullpen depth after Mitch Spence covered four relief innings Saturday.

Marquez took a no-decision Saturday against the Angels, allowing no runs on two hits and two walks in 5.2 innings. He struck out eight.

The veteran right-hander put together his longest outing of the year in what was also arguably his finest effort of 2026 so far. He surrendered a season-low two hits while also matching a season high in punchouts. Marquez has worked his way back into fantasy relevance following a couple of tough seasons in Colorado, posting a respectable 3.86 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and 15:6 K:BB over 18.2 innings for the Padres this year. His next start tentatively projects to come versus Arizona.

Kikuchi took a no-decision Saturday against the Padres, allowing no runs on four hits and one walk in six innings. He struck out eight.

It was easily a season-best performance by the southpaw, who worked his longest outing of the year, turned in his first scoreless start and tied a season high with eight punchouts. Despite Saturday's strong showing, Kikuchi still has a rough 5.63 ERA, 1.63 WHIP and 27:11 K:BB over his first 24 innings. His next start tentatively lines up to come against the Royals, who have a poor .605 OPS versus left-handed pitching thus far in 2026.

Eovaldi (2-3) took the loss against the Mariners on Saturday, allowing four runs (two earned) on eight hits and one walk with three strikeouts over five innings.

The 36-year-old allowed runs in the first, fourth and sixth innings, including a solo homer by Luke Raley to open the sixth. While it was a step back from his stellar performance Monday, Eovaldi has yielded just four earned runs across his last three starts after surrendering 11 earned runs in his first two outings this season. He'll carry a 5.06 ERA, 1.54 WHIP and 29:8 K:BB across 26.2 innings into a home matchup against the Athletics next weekend.

Kirby (3-2) earned the win against the Rangers on Saturday, allowing one run on seven hits and two walks with five strikeouts over 5.2 innings.

Kirby opened with five scoreless frames despite laboring at times and departed an out shy of a quality start after allowing a run in the sixth. It marked the first time in five outings that the 28-year-old failed to complete six innings, and he's yielded three earned runs or fewer in four of those contests. Kirby has a 2.97 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 27:8 K:BB across 33.1 innings and is slated to face the Cardinals on the road next weekend.

McCullers (1-1) took the loss against the Cardinals on Saturday, allowing four runs on four hits and three walks with four strikeouts over five innings.

McCullers allowed two runs in each of the first and third innings, throwing 58 of 91 pitches for strikes while generating 10 whiffs. After going seven strong frames in his season debut March 30, the 32-year-old has now yielded 13 earned runs across his past three starts. He'll carry a 6.20 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 21:9 K:BB across 20.1 innings into a tough home matchup against the Yankees next weekend.

Rasmussen didn't factor into the decision Saturday against the Pirates, allowing four runs on two hits and two walks with three strikeouts across 3.2 innings.

Rasmussen gave up a two-run homer to Ryan O'Hearn in the bottom of the first inning and later surrendered another two-run shot to Marcell Ozuna in the fourth. The game was then delayed by rain for two hours and 27 minutes, ending Rasmussen's day after 64 pitches. It was the right-hander's first troublesome outing of the season after he yielded just two runs in 16 innings across his first three starts. Rasmussen now owns a 2.75 ERA and 20:3 K:BB across 19.2 innings. He should be well rested ahead of his next turn through the rotation, which is likely to come at home versus the Twins.

Scherzer took a no-decision Saturday against the Diamondbacks, allowing two runs on five hits and one walk in six innings. He struck out one.

After yielding eight runs his last time out versus the Twins, Scherzer got back on track Saturday with his second quality start of the year and his first since his 2026 debut. It was also the veteran right-hander's first start of the season that he didn't serve up a home run. While Scherzer still has an ugly 7.16 ERA through his first 16.1 frames, he does hold a more palatable 1.29 WHIP and is set for a fairly soft matchup against the Guardians for his next start.